Obituaries

Joseph Norbert Carner

Photo of Joseph Norbert Carner
Joseph Norbert Carner, 91, passed away September 22, 2010. He was born in East Chicago, Indiana on August 31, 1919. He is predeceased in death by his parents, Joseph and Helen Carner; sister, Margaret H. Carner; brother, Frank J. Carner, and wife of 50 years, Margaret Davies Carner. After graduating from Washington High School in East Chicago, Ind. in 1937, Mr. Carner attended the Art Institute of Chicago at Goodman Theatre. In 1942, he was inducted for World War II service and was stationed in the Philippines and New Guinea as a Technical Staff Sergeant with Ground Control Radar Operations in the Army Signal Corps, Co. B, 574th Signal Battalion ("Night Fighters"). He was honorably discharged in 1945 and returned to school on the GI Bill, completing his BFA at the Art Institute of Chicago and later receiving a MFA from Yale University. He also attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville to study Architecture. In 1947, Mr. Carner married Margaret Cameron Davies and began a career in professional theatre specializing in Lighting and Set and Scene Design. He served on the faculty at the Art Institute of Chicago - Goodman Memorial Theatre as Technical Director in Theatre Production-Lighting Design; and held faculty and professional positions at Virginia Museum of Fine Arts-Richmond; University of Richmond, Va., Lake Zurich Playhouse, Ill., Malden Bridge Playhouse, N.Y., and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. After moving with his wife back to Little Rock, Ark. in the late 1950s Mr. Carner worked on the Titan II Missile Project and was later employed by the City of Little Rock as a Park Development Designer for the Parks and Recreation Department. He developed designs for Fair Park Golf Course, Burns Park, the auditorium at the Arkansas Art Center, and the main entrance and administrative offices, concessions, and various wild animal habitats at the Little Rock Zoo. Toward the latter part of his career, he was an Assistant Professor for Theatre Production and Lighting Design at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and was the founding Director of the Multimedia Services Center for the campus. Both he and his wife, Margaret, shared a passion for professional theatre and were life-long educators. Over the years, he offered professional guidance and direction to countless theatre students; many of whom went on to pursue careers in network television, stage production, film, and education. After retiring, he and his wife Margaret moved to Florida to be near their two grandchildren. After the passing of his wife, Mr. Carner moved to Jacksonville, Fla. with his daughter where he spent the remainder of his years. He is survived by his daughters, Margaret Carner of Jacksonville, Fla. and Frances Carner of Livingston Parish, La.; and grandchildren, Elizabeth Rodrigue and Will Rodrigue. A graveside service will be held at Hollywood Cemetery, 303 Hollywood Ave., Hot Springs, Arkansas on Saturday, October 2 at 2 p.m., officiated by Selected Cemetery Co. (501) 623-7078. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Roosevelt L. Thompson Scholarship Fund, a 4-year renewable scholarship awarded each year to a college-bound senior from Little Rock Central High School, c/o The Arkansas Community Foundation (ARCF), 1400 W. Markham, Suite 206, Little Rock, Ark. 72201.

Published September 29, 2010

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